I haven't read anything from this author but I enjoyed this cozy read. It's a great story line and just enough mystery and a lot of interesting characters to keep you entertained. I loved Aunt Essie's sayings and recipes, so I was happy to see them at the back of the book. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would like to see this turned into a series. Thank you Net Galley for the ARC.

Fun, twisty thriller. Loved the FMC and it was so fun to try and figure out all the twists…which I didn’t, and that’s rare. I will definitely look out for more by this author.

I read the first 20 or so pages three times and I'm still confused. It's like the author expected me to know every character and their relationship to one another prior to reading...idk how that's possible considering this is the first book in a new series. Honestly, I was really looking forward to this book, but it's a no for me. DNF

The story has a charming mix of humor, mystery, and a bit of Southern flavor that made it a fun read from start to finish. What stood out to me was the main character, Savvy. She’s witty and relatable, and I loved how her personality brought warmth and energy to the story. The mystery itself was cleverly crafted, and I found myself eager to piece together the clues alongside Savvy. The writing style is smooth and engaging, making it easy to stay connected to the story. The pacing was well balanced, not too fast, not too slow, and there were plenty of moments that kept me smiling. If I had one small critique, it’s that a few of the side characters could have been more developed, but overall, they added nice texture to the story.

I really tried to give this book a fair shot, but unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. I tried reading it twice and couldn’t make it past the first few chapters either time. The characters weren’t likable, and the storyline was just messy from the start. I struggled to stay engaged and found myself quickly losing interest.
Thank you, NetGalley and St Martin's Press, for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.

Read this if you like: charming, cozy mysteries, amateur sleuths, food, messy, and funny stories. A great cozy read! Thank you to Net Galley, Sandra Jackson-Opoku and Minotaur Books for the ARC copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I really liked the mystery in this, and the atmosphere in general. I loved the food descriptions of course, which I felt made it cozy above all else.

Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes is the first book in Sandra Jackson-Opoku's new cozy mystery series, named after the main character, Savvy Summers, and it was a fun, entertaining mystery.

Savvy Summers finds herself embroiled in controversy after a regular customer drops dead in her café, and rumours start to spread that his cause of death was poisoning by her famous sweet potato pie. Savvy's pie is soon discounted as the cause of death, and the death is not considered to be suspicious by the police, but Savvy is not satisfied with this verdict. And when another man from the neighbourhood suddenly dies, she believes her suspicions to be correct.

This book is filled with memorable, although not always likeable, characters, and witty dialogue. I really enjoyed the Ebonics it made the story more immersive, and although I didn't have trouble translating, I loved the inclusion of Great-Aunt Essie's Epithets at the back of the book.

I really enjoyed the mystery in the novel, there were so many threads that it was hard to figure out who was behind the murders, and the ultimate motive since they seemed similar yet there was no clear link.

Although this was a relatively light hearted book, I also found myself interested in reading more about Black history in the United States. As a Canadian, although I'm aware of the history I'm not exposed to the culture since I've done very little travelling so I'm probably going to be picking up a few books to better educate myself. I love when a book I've picked up mostly for entertainment pushes me to delve into history, and to consider new perspectives.

Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes was a fun mystery, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves cozy mysteries. Personally, I look forward to future entries in the series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was such a breath of fresh air to read a cozy mystery that made me hungry at the same time! I love sweet potato pie, and that combined with a murder mystery was perfect for what I was hoping to read.

A full time caterer, part time homicide detective? Savvy's got skills! Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes is a cozy mystery that is anything but boring and typical. The characters were well developed and that made it easy to love (and hate) them. I loved the book and I truly think it held up where other cozy mysteries fall short. It was humorous, entertaining, and I didn't figure out whodunnit within the first half of the story as I typically do. I hope there's a return of Savvy, Fanon, and Penny.

“Savvy Summers and the Sweet Potato Crimes” by Sandra Jackson-Opoku
Disappointed…
I tried several times to read this story and I do not usually give up. But, and I do not really know why, this story just never grabbed my attention enough to keep me turning the pages. I found myself wanting to go to sleep rather than turn another page. I did get into the story enough to read about the 1st death… pushed on a few more chapters. Then I broke down and skipped to the end of the story to find out who did it and discovered that there were additional deaths.. Oh, you might like the recipes included at the end of the story; they looked good. Happy Reading ! !

Savvy is a force to ve reckoned with! I adored this mystery set in one of the most unique settings--a soul food restaurant! A wonderful plotted mystery with a main character you fall in love with. I loved the swnse of place that Jackson-Opoku presented in this evocative mystery.

Savvy Summers owns a soul food cafe. One of her long-time patrons dies in the midst of eating her sweet potato pie. Turns out it was death by Viagra. Still the damage is done and people of wary of eating her food.

I started nodding off with how repetitive Savvy's interrogations got. A ton of characters get introduced and after so many they blend into one another.

I did enjoy the banter between her and her ex-husband. He's really supportive during this whole ordeal and he also slips out "my wife" instead of "ex-wife".

Savvy Summers just wasn't for me - it was an interesting concept, but the pacing was a little off and I couldn't get a good "image" of Savvy herself. After attempting to read this one on a few different occasions, I gave up - I wasn't enamored enough to continue. My thanks to the publisher/author for the complimentary copy - I recognize a lot of hard work goes into writing a book so while I say "it wasn't for me" - it might just be exactly what the next reader is looking for!

This is one of those cozy mysteries with recipes at the end and I'll always try a book like that.

The main character, Savvy, owns a Chicago soul food cafe and also does catering. After a customer keels over dead from what turns out to be a viagra overdose at one of her tables, Savvy becomes a suspect. The community is a bit nervous about eating Savvy's food since there's suspicion that one of her sweet potato pies did the deed.

There's a big cast of character and lots of motives for folks who had something against the murder victim. He was a philanderer. He used to be part of a music group back in the day and there might have been some shadiness there. Even Savvy's assistant turns out to have a secret involving the victim.

The language in this book is colloquial Black American. I didn't have any problem following along but it looks like some reviewers did. There's a handy glossary in the back of the book of phrases that some people might find unfamiliar. The book was often funny. It did feel like the author was trying to ramp up the reality show style drama once in a while. The sassiness went hard.

There wasn't an arrow pointing obviously to the killer and in fact if the killer hadn't literally showed up to try to kill Savvy at the end of the book I don't know if there was a good trail of clues. This is a book to read more for atmosphere and a few grins than to read for the mystery IMO.

I am a southern girl, and I love soul food. Although, I am white and thought we invented "Southern" cuisine. Thankfully, I have been set straight on where my great grandmother learned how to cook. That being said, I loved the diner, I loved the mystery, I loved the characters. I think this is going to be a wonderful cozy!! And YES, Recipes!! I am also going to have to steal "God bless their naked soul"!

This was a charming, cozy murder mystery. The characters are very well developed and likeable. I always love a strong and independent female lead, especially one with a great sense of humor. You won't regret this book!!

Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I'm finding out that while mysteries still aren't my favorite, they're not totally off the table 😊 I like cozies with food and culture.

Savvy Summers has a regular clientele who frequent her soul food cafe in Chicago's South Side. that is until they start dropping dead from overdoses of Viagra . . .

Her and her assistant manager Penny start sleuthing to find the real culprit and save the cafe.

A cast of vibrant characters populate Savvy's world and give life to this thuroughly enjoyable mystery!

Thank you Sandra Jackson-Opolu and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

What a great book. I liked the characters, and the mystery was good, too. I live in Chicago, and the place shines through. One beef was that I felt like there were too many times we stopped and Savvy went over all the possibilities in her mind about what could have happened. I know it's a common technique, but we readers have been there all along and don't need too-frequent plot summaries. Plus, the tai chi lesson toward the end really slowed down the momentum to the reveal. That could have been put in earlier in the book to not bring the pacing to a screeching halt right when a reader wants to know whodunnit. Otherwise great story.

3.5 stars rounded up. This book definitely had its positives. For one, Hattiesburg is mentioned multiple times. 🫡 And my daughter was born in Memphis. How in the world could I rate a book that hated even a little bit on the Cubs AND North Side Chicago this highly? I blame the pie.

The first 55% of this is completely introspection and speculation and the same three conversations with largely the same characters. I almost bailed because it just went on forever. Half of that section could have been much less tell me and much more show me. I cared about Savvy without needing that much of a front seat to her deepest ruminations.

The mystery itself was set up nicely, and fits within the trajectory of what we imagine for a “cozy mystery.” In the last third of the book, Savvy starts to really pull out the investigator super-sleuthing and I love it. I felt like we started to see her personality shine in those moments. Her vulnerability was on display, and it was endearing.

All in, it was a fresh perspective on the cozy mystery genre. It just took a while to get going. I enjoyed the Southern cultural elements reflected on the page. There are several recipes in the book, and I cannot wait to try them. I will NOT be making a vegan pie, however, on principle. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy.

Spice: none (although considerable conversation about ED-medication and their necessity, uses, abuses)
Strong language used at times.